Luther William Davidson Jr.

Sergeant Major (Ret.) Luther William Davidson Jr., a highly decorated United States Army combat veteran whose 24-year career included two Silver Star Medals for gallantry in Vietnam, passed away on July 7 at the age of 81 in Port Orange, Florida. He was born on February 7, 1945, in Clinton, Massachusetts.

Long before he ever wore a uniform, Davidson was already known for his work ethic. Starting around sixth grade, he rose before dawn to deliver the Worcester Telegram, leaving the house at 5:00 a.m. to carry papers door to door. He later went to work for the Clinton Daily Item, preparing carrier routes and eventually learning the trade of hot-metal printing, melting down and casting new iron type, along with typesetting, skills he practiced right up until he left for the Army.

As he got older, he traded his newspaper route for early mornings at a local dairy, and as soon as he was old enough to drive, he took on delivering milk before school. By the time he was in high school, Davidson was juggling three part-time jobs at once, working at the dairy and on his milk route before class, at the Clinton Daily Item office after school, and then at D’Olimpio's Restaurant in the evenings. It was a work ethic he carried with him into the Army and through every assignment that followed.

Davidson entered the United States Army in June 1962, beginning a life of service that would take him around the world. His early years in uniform included multiple combat tours in Vietnam, where his courage under fire earned him the Silver Star Medal (twice), three Purple Hearts, two Meritorious Service Medals, the Bronze Star Medal with “V” Device for valor, and the Army Commendation Medal with “V” Device. The Republic of Vietnam also recognized his service with the Gallantry Cross with Palm (Unit Citation) and the Cross of Gallantry with Bronze Star. He earned the Combat Infantryman Badge, Expert Infantryman Badge, Ranger Tab, and Senior Parachute Badge—marks of a soldier who led from the front and mastered every level of his profession.

His career also included more than a decade of assignments in Germany. He first served in Baumholder (1968–1970), where he attended the German Army’s NCO School at Sonthofen—an honor and rare opportunity for an American soldier to train alongside German forces. His achievements there were recognized with the German Army Senior NCO Identification Badge and the German Marksmanship Award in Gold. He later served in Crailsheim (1972–1974) and then in West Berlin (1976–1980) with Company A, 2nd Battalion, 6th Infantry, part of the Berlin Brigade—the U.S. Army’s Cold War garrison stationed as an isolated Allied outpost deep inside East German territory.

Between his tours in Germany, from 1974 to 1976, Davidson served as an instructor in the Office of Military Instruction at the United States Military Academy at West Point, helping prepare the next generation of Army officers. Throughout his career, he rose through the enlisted ranks of the Infantry, holding leadership positions from Team Leader to Company First Sergeant and Battalion Operations Sergeant. He completed 21 military technical schools, reflecting his commitment to professional excellence. Following his Berlin assignment, he graduated in 1980 from the Army’s Senior Level Staff School and the Sergeants Major Academy at Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas—the Army’s capstone leadership course for its most senior noncommissioned officers.

He concluded his military career as Detachment Sergeant Major of an Army ROTC Detachment with the 1st ROTC Region, Fort Bragg, North Carolina, serving at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, Florida. Sergeant Major Davidson retired from active duty in August 1986, having attained the Army’s highest enlisted rank of Sergeant Major (E-9) after 24 years of devoted service to his country.

Following his retirement from the Army, Davidson brought the same discipline and leadership to a second career in public infrastructure. From 1986 to 1988, he served as a Project Manager in the Engineering Section of Volusia County Public Works in DeLand, Florida, overseeing county construction projects and supervising the private contractor responsible for operating the county’s water and wastewater treatment facilities.

In 1988, he became Director of Planning, Development and Facilities at Daytona Beach Airport, a position he held for more than eleven years. During his tenure, he led the rebuilding of the airport, overseeing the construction of new runways, taxiways, hangars, aircraft parking aprons, and a new passenger terminal. He personally secured the federal and state aviation grants that funded these improvements while also directing the airport’s facilities staff and long-range planning.

Davidson met and married his first wife, Eva (née Beinlich), in December 1968 while stationed in Germany. He lovingly embraced Eva’s son, David, later adopting him and raising him as his own. Their son, Brian, was born in 1970 while Davidson was serving in Vietnam. Eva preceded him in death in 2004, and Brian preceded him in death in 2022. In 2013, Davidson married Joyce, who preceded him in death in 2025.

In retirement, Davidson found great joy on the golf course, where he enjoyed both the game and the friendships it brought. He remained active in his church and devoted countless hours to veterans’ organizations, continuing a lifelong commitment to serving both his community and his fellow veterans. Those who knew him will remember his unwavering sense of duty, quiet strength, and steadfast commitment to the people and causes he believed in.

He is survived by his son, David, and daughter-in-law, Velina; his daughter-in-law, Dana, widow of his late son Brian; his grandson, Clint, and his wife, Ashley, and their children, Landon and Lainey; his grandchildren, Claudia and Thomas; his sister, Dorothy Sullivan; and his brother, Wayne Davidson.

His legacy lives on through the family he loved, the soldiers he led, the officers he helped prepare for service, the public works he helped build, and the example of integrity, courage, and selfless service that defined his life.

Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, July 28th at 11 AM at Catholic Church of the Epiphany, 201 Lafayette St., Port Orange, FL 32127.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in his memory to the Wounded Warrior Project.